UNCF and 10,000 Degrees® Establish $180,000 Scholarship Fund with Biotech Company Amyris
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Posted By: Kennedy Williams on July 01, 2021 Amyris, Inc. a leading synthetic biotechnology company active in the Clean Health and Beauty markets through its consumer brands, today announced partnerships with UNCF and 10,000 Degrees® to establish a $180,000 scholarship fund to support Black and African American students pursuing higher education across STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), business, and marketing studies. “UNCF is thankful for meaningful partnerships, such as this partnership with Amyris,” says Dr. Michael L. Lomax, UNCF President and CEO. “Workforce diversity is proven essential to 21st century business success. Our HBCUs and their students have oftentimes been overlooked for opportunities within the STEM, business, and marketing fields. Collaborations with UNCF, Amyris, and other industry giants ensure Black and Brown students are prepared for career success and make impactful contributions to their families and communities.” “Access to education for all requires a steadfast commitment to bring funding, community, and opportunity directly to students,” said John Melo, CEO and President of Amyris. “It’s an honor to partner with the UNCF and 10,0000 Degrees and play a role in helping students achieve their higher education goals and also help foster diversity and inclusion in the biotech industry.” “When we set our diversity, equity, and inclusion goals, it was abundantly clear that education would be a key pillar we would dedicate both our time and resources to,” said Christine Ofori, Amyris Chief People Officer. “We are proud to support students through our scholarship with UNCF and 10,000 Degrees and believe this is the beginning of a journey to achieving equal access to higher education for students from diverse backgrounds.” For more than 75 years, UNCF has cultivated a robust community of under-represented students and shepherded them through the higher education process, ensuring they thrive at college and go on to become leaders in their professional and personal communities. Since its inception, UNCF has raised more than $5 billion, supported more than 500,000 students, and provided financial support to 37 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). UNCF has a well-established STEM program that will now include an Amyris scholarship to bring new and diverse talent to STEM fields. 10,000 Degrees’ mission is to achieve educational equity and to support students from low-income backgrounds to and through college. In addition to providing scholarships,10,000 Degrees supports over 12,000 students a year across seven Bay Area counties with near-peer mentorship, financial aid advising and navigation, community college transfer support, career readiness, and other invaluable resources that are critical to a student’s successful college experience. From the organization’s founding in 1981, 10,000 Degrees has awarded over $80 million in scholarships and helped over 20,000 students graduate from college. With Amyris’ headquarters in the San Francisco Bay Area, supporting local students and future STEM, business, and marketing leaders is an essential part of the company’s ethos. “For the past 40 years, 10,000 Degrees has worked to help students from underrepresented backgrounds attend and graduate college, and we’re honored to partner with Amyris and UNCF to help more students achieve their college dreams,” said Kim Mazzuca, 10,000 Degrees president and CEO. “We believe in the unlimited potential of all our students, and their right to an excellent education, and the support they need to achieve it. We know that with this scholarship, these students will go on to make a transformative impact on the world.” SOURCE: UNCF If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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Kennedy Williams
From Loganville, GA Spelman College class of 2020 Member Since July 2016 |
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